Lake Hawassa

EQST 015 Lake Hawassa

Day 1: : We set off early and join the Express Way, heading south, coming off at Mojo to join the main road south and by the lakes of Koka, Zwai Langano, Abiata and Shalla. We start to climb after passing Langano, leaving the drier acacia forest for the greener areas around Shashamene.

A short distance from Shashamene is the town of Hawassa, capital of the southern region. We will check into the new Haile Resort (owned by the famous runner, Haile Gebre Selassie), situated on the shores of the lake. Lake Hawassa with its mountainous background, is one of Ethiopia’s most beautiful lakes and is home to a huge population of birds, and walking along the shores one can also see hippo. Colobus and cervet monkeys and baboons are common in the hotel grounds. (The distance is about 280 km, the journey taking about 4 hours.)

Boats can be hired on the lake, and it is a great way to spend an afternoon, among the fishermen and watching the antics of the malakite king fisher and other water birds. There is a swimming pool in the grounds of the hotel, or visitors may like to walk along the shores of the lake or in the nearby Black Forest. Lunch and dinner will be in the hotel.

Day 2: Bird watchers may like to take an early morning trip to the fish market, and get really close to a variety of species that are very used to human company. Otherwise we will spend the morning relaxing in the hotel grounds, along the shores of the lake or on a boat. We will take lunch in the hotel, and set back to Addis Ababa mid-afternoon.